An Interview with State Senate Democratic Nominee Malcolm Ruff
(BALTIMORE – June 29, 2026) — Fresh off his victory in Maryland’s 41st Legislative District Democratic primary, Malcolm Ruff sat down exclusively with BMORENews to discuss what he calls a watershed moment for Baltimore’s Black community.
In a candid conversation, Ruff reflected on the campaign’s turning points, the mentors who helped shape his journey, the sacrifices his family made, and why he believes the celebration is over and the work is just beginning.
Doni Glover:
For the record, how does this victory feel?
Malcolm Ruff:
I would say this is a watershed moment for the Black community in Baltimore City. We have exerted our power—not just in my race, but across the board in races that are critical to whether or not Black people get to determine what happens on their block and whether Black people will be able to hold their public officials accountable.
So I feel honored to be making history in my home city—for my people.
Doni Glover:
Looking back, was there a turning point in the campaign?
Malcolm Ruff:
Absolutely.
The turning point in this campaign was really twofold.
One: bringing in Derek Green, an unapologetically Black campaign director. He took this campaign personally because he understood the dynamics of what we were facing.
The second was bringing Professor Larry Gibson into the campaign. That combination of Derek’s passion and Professor Gibson’s experience completely overwhelmed our opposition.
Doni Glover:
Are you proud of the community?
Malcolm Ruff:
Absolutely.
I think there were indications that my opponent believed our community would not be astute enough to come together and recognize that I was the strongest—and the only—candidate in the race.
Instead, our community proved otherwise.
Doni Glover:
Tell me about Billy Murphy and Ben Crump.
Malcolm Ruff:
Billy is my OG for a reason.
Billy has instilled in me that there is no limit to excellence and that it is all about attitude. That’s the number one lesson he has always taught me. If you have the right attitude, all the other intangibles will follow.
Billy means so much to Black freedom and Black power.
And it was my extreme honor to have Ben Crump—America’s Black Attorney General—not only stump for me twice, but also max out in support of my campaign.
When someone who is changing the face of constitutional law in this country takes the time to pay attention to a State Senate race and publicly weigh in, it tells you everything you need to know about the gravity of that race.
Doni Glover:
Tell me about the important women in your life and what this campaign meant for them.
Malcolm Ruff:
There’s no way I could have accomplished this without my wife, Sydnee Wilson Ruff.
She’s been in my life since I was sixteen years old. She’s learned to love me as a perfectly imperfect being, and she’s a powerful boss in her own right, preparing to become Executive Director of the Child First Authority.
The moment I knew I had won wasn’t when someone announced the results.
It was when I walked into Forest Park Golf Course.
As soon as Sydnee saw me, she started crying because she had just heard some of the first returns coming in.
At that moment, I knew everything was becoming real for her—all the sacrifices, all the time I had been away from home, especially during the last three months of the campaign, and the weight of knowing what this election meant to our people.
I’m eternally grateful to my wife. She carried herself throughout this campaign with so much grace, and I think she’s going to make an amazing First Lady for the 41st District.
I also have to recognize my mother, Martha Ruff. She sacrificed everything to make sure I received the best education possible and laid the foundation for me to become a conscientious, people-focused State Senator.
And then there’s my mother-in-law, Kim Wilson.
She’s our family’s go-to person for childcare, but she also went far beyond that. She was out fixing campaign signs after they were knocked down, talking with people throughout the community, working the polls on Election Day, and encouraging voters every chance she got.
I can never thank her enough.
Doni Glover:
Did your children help, too?
Malcolm Ruff:
Absolutely.
My son, Ray Ruff, was knocking doors with me throughout the campaign.
And one of the moments I’ll always treasure is watching my oldest daughter, Sage Edwards, cast her very first vote.
She turned eighteen just three days before the election.
Doni Glover:
Any final thoughts?
Malcolm Ruff:
Now the real work begins.
Now we begin to set a framework in which everyone in the 41st has an opportunity.
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Doni Glover is the founder and publisher of BMORENews.com, now in its 24th year of covering Black Baltimore, and the founder of the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, now in its 15th year. He is also the host of the Emmy-nominated Doni Glover podcast and The Doni Glover Show on WMAR-TV 2.
